What is a Server?

9 Reasons your business might need a server

1. You can create order from chaos.

By centralizing data on a server, you can better manage business-critical information. Sharing files and other data across PCs becomes much easier, as does migrating data from one PC to another.

2. Security

The most important role of a file server is the network security it provides. By creating individual user and group accounts, access rights can be assigned to the data stored on the network preventing unauthorized users from accessing materials they shouldn't be viewing. For example, the people on the sales floor don't need access to employee's personal records. That information is reserved for HR or the company owners.

The server allows you to manage file access on one system rather than on each workstation individually; which saves time and effort. Plus if a user's workstation fails, that employee can go to another workstation to continue working on the same files.

Also, all users can store their documents within their own personal folder on the server. The benefit to this is two-fold. First, data stored in a user's personal folder can only be viewed by the user themselves. Second, since all of your employee's data is being stored on the network, it gets backed up nightly with the rest of the network data, thus ensuring that nothing will be lost due to a crashed workstation.

3. You can protect your data by making backups easier.

One of the main features of Windows Small Business Server 2003, for example, enable users to better protect their data assets by simplifying backups and the restoration of critical data. By having everything in one system, you ensure your backing up all your data, using whatever type of backup system you prefer.

4. Reliability

Servers are designed to run at all times, even in the event of a hardware failure. That's why many servers are equipped with redundant power supplies. Normally, if one of the power supplies dies, the server would automatically shutdown. Resulting in lose data and unproductive employees. With a secondary power supply running in tandem, the lost of one of the power supplies doesn't effect normal system operations and as a result, goes unnoticed by the users.

The same goes for a server's storage system. Unlike an average desktop PC that uses a single hard drive. A server will typically use multiple hard drives working in a RAID configuration to prevent data lose or an interruption in workflow due to the failure of a solitary hard disk. There are many different levels of RAID to choose from and it can be implemented via either a hardware RAID controller or thru software. The most popular configurations of RAID are RAID-1 and RAID-5.

With the redundant hard drive or power supply engaged, you're still left with the problem of replacing the failed hardware. On a desktop, when any hardware fails you need to shut the system down in order to repair it. This isn't an acceptable condition for a server since whenever the server is down your employees are unable to function. It's for this reason that many servers are also equipped with hot swappable hard drives and power supplies. Like with the redundant systems, these hot swappable components allow you to replace faulty hardware without interrupting the entire office.

5. Centralized Virus Management

One of the greatest threats to your network is the possibility of infection from viruses, spyware and spam. So having good, updated, anti-virus software installed on your systems is a necessity. In an office of 7 people or less, systems can be maintained individually. Anything more than that, though, can become a real burden. In those circumstances, an anti-virus package that combines workstation and server virus protection into a single solution makes more sense.

Numerous vendors make anti-virus suites designed specifically around the needs of a small business. A package like this allows a single network administrator to manage every aspect of the anti-virus software from a centralized location; thereby reducing administration and maintenance cost.

From a single PC, the administrator can deploy the latest anti-virus software to each workstation on the network, run network wide virus scans, patch software and update virus definition files. The software is designed to use minimal system resources and run in the background of a client PC; constantly watching for signs of trouble. Many tasks, like virus sweeps and definitions updates can be automated,giving you piece of mind and a feeling of security.

6. Print Server

Using a server you can share all your printers from one location, and setup security to ensure only authorized personnel are printing to costly colour laser printers. Having a print server also makes it easier to install a printer on multiple workstations.

7. Roaming from PC to PC

With a server, you can also configure all the user accounts in one location. This allows us to not only setup security, but also a feature called roaming profiles. This allows you to log onto any workstation in your office, and have the same desktop, email, files, and configuration that you would have on your own workstation.

8. Centralized Email and Calendars

9. Use a Database

Most accounting software recommend that you have a server so that your accounting database is centrally located on a dedicated server. Without a server, databases can become corrupted if restarted while other users are on the system.

Although there are many other reasons a server might be good for your business, these are just the most common benifits. If you would like to know more about servers, and how it could benifit your company give us a call and schedule a free, no obligation consultation. 905-346-4966